Landscaping question. Any suggestions?

Question

There is this tree in my front yard. It has a liner around it, but grass and weeds have grown all over it. I want to tear it all up and cover it with mulch or woodchips or something. Any suggestions on how to keep the weeds/grass from growing back? And also any suggestions on how to make this project go any smoother or look nicer?

Answer 1

Matthew -

It depends on how much work you like to do.

Even if you put down weed block cloth, you will eventually get weeds growing.

Clean up the area, cover with mulch or wood chips.  Do not use stone for mulch - it can change the pH.

Try a product like Preen (R) - it helps keep down weeds.  Don't use it if you have children or pets that get curious about little white shots on the ground.

Once the weed begin to come up again, water the tree and pull out the wet weeds.  The soil will be softer and the weeds should come out easier.

Answer 2

Don't use weed mat, now considered a bad thing to use, it doesn't allow enough water through for the surrounding trees and shrubs.

If you put down gravel or woodchip you will always get seed blown or dropped in and over time it will eventually grow and the weeds start again.  They just don't come from underneath.  When you have bare patches you will always get something growing in them.  The trick is to cover the ground with some vegetation and leave no space.  This could be a hardy ground cover such as Ajuga, Violets, small growing Nandina's such as 'Harbour Dwarf' or Firepower depending on how tall you want cover.  Just pick what is appropriate for your climate and which height you like.  Mass plantings always look good.  Perhaps a mass planting of nandinas approx 3/4 of yard high around the tree and an edging of variegated english box hedge around this again.  Pick something evergreen if you can to stop winter weeds comming in.  Lamium or Ajuga if you can grow them are trouble free and no maintenance.  Just fill in the space and no more trouble once plants established just don't leave spaces when they are mature.

Answer 3

When you are done weeding or tearing up the area just put down a weed block (available from any hardware store) prior to mulching/chipping.  Just make sure you are looking at a 100% heavy duty weed block - it will work the best if you don't want anything growing back.